5/2007

CZEC

H F

urn

itu

re I

nd

ust

rySu

pp

lem

ent

of

Cze

ch B

usi

nes

s an

d T

rad

e

CZECH FURNITURE INDUSTRY

Supplement of:Czech Business and Trade 09-10/2007

C Z E C H F U R N I T U R E I N D U S T R Y

3 |

MK ČR E 6379

This magazine is published as a supplement to the economic bi-monthly issued in English (Czech Business and Trade), German (Wirtschaft und Handel inder Tschechischen Republik), French (Industrie et commerce tchèques), Spanish (Empresas y negocios en la República Checa), and Russian (óe¯cÍaflÚop„o‚Îfl Ë Ôe‰ÔËÌËÏaÚeθcÚ‚o).

Managing Editor: Jana VápeníkováEditor: Naďa VávrováGraphic Design: Helena Dvořáková, Miloslav Bucvan

Address: PP Agency, s.r.o., Myslíkova 25, 110 00 Praha 1, Czech RepublicPhone: +420 221 406 623, 221 406 626, Fax: +420 224 934 383E-mail: journal@ppagency.czwww.ppagency.cz, www.mpo.cz/cbt

Deadline: 24/7/2007

Attitudes expressed by the authors of articles in this magazine are not necessarily consistent with the viewpoint of the Publisher.

PP Agency Company with the ISO 9001 certified quality management system for publishing services

CONTENTS:

ANALYSIS4 Furniture Making in the Czech Republic Represents Tradition, Quality, and Ecology5 High Standard of the Furniture Industry8 Current Trends in the Manufacture of Upholstered Furniture9 The Association of Furniture Manufacturers Contributes to Development of Sector10 The Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers Promotes Export and Innovation

ENTERPRISE12 ASON – Studio of Furniture for Healthy Sitting and Sleeping

WE ARE INTRODUCING14 TECHO – Specialist in the Furnishing of Commercial Interiors15 Sofa Full of Senses for Sigmund Freud

CZECH TOP18 TON – Seating Furniture Specialist19 The Böhm Trademark Furniture with an Image20 The Largest Czech Exporter on the Furniture Market22 Modern Creative Kitchen24 MOBITEX – Presentation of Living and Design

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT25 Interdisciplinary Studies and Furniture Research

SURVEY27 Poll of Successful Companies Operating in the Furniture Industry

INFORMATION30 Furniture Exhibitions and Fairs in the Czech Republic (July-December 2007) 30 Important Contacts

PRESENTATION OF COMPANIES:

2 PP Agency s.r.o.11 PRAVAN, spol. s r.o.13 2G-spol. s r.o. - Přikrývky a polštáře16-17 POLSTRIN DESIGN, s.r.o.21 JITONA a.s.23 KORYNA nábytek, a.s.31 ELBEN s.r.o.32 M.I.P. Group, a.s.

Ing. Milan Novotný – STEN; NADRCHAL a.s.

Cov

er p

hoto

: PO

LSTR

IN D

ESIG

N s

.r.o.

, M

odel

: H

ENRI

D

esig

n :

Šárk

a M

ecne

rová

, M

anuf

actu

rer

: PO

LSTR

IN D

ESIG

N,

Year

200

7

Current Trends in the Manufacture of Upholstered Furniture

The Largest Czech Exporter on the FurnitureMarket

NADOP – výroba nábytku Ořechov s.r.o.

A N A LY S I S

| 4

Furniture Making in the Czech RepublicRepresents Tradition, Quality, and Ecology

Miloslav Žďárek, Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-mail: zdarek@mpo.cz, www.mpo.cz

The furniture industry is one of the CzechRepublic’s traditional manufacturingsectors.

Production is based on wood mass –a domestic, renewable high-quality rawmaterial. Wood mass is environmentallyfriendly, has no negative effect on theenvironment and does not endangerpeople’s health.

Output of the Furniture IndustryIn 2006, the furniture industry accountedfor approximately 3 % of revenue from thesale of own products and services and forapprox. 5.3 % of the labour force. Theindustry’s products are all-purpose, for useboth in public institutions and privatehomes.

Furniture manufacturers can be found inall regions throughout the country. Thereare more than 530 furniture manufacturerswith 10 or more employees, and seven largemanufacturers with over 500 employees.Only one furniture-making enterprise hasmore than 1000 employees. Approximately20 enterprises are financed through foreigncapital and/or are headed by foreignmanagement.

Export and Import The Czech furniture industry is to a greatextent responsible for the high satisfactionof domestic demand. At the same time,Czech furniture products are largelyexported. In 2006, furniture exportsreached EUR 1.57 billion, while furnitureimports amounted to EUR 817 million(trade volume: EUR 2.387 billion), whichdiversified the market range considerably.The favourable balance of trade in furnitureis an important contribution benefiting thecountry’s economy.

High Standard of Czech FurnitureThe next few years augur well for thefurther development of furniture making inthe Czech Republic. The overall quality offurniture is of a good to very good standardand is comparable with that of leadingforeign manufacturers. In the case of certainfurniture types, the CR ranks at the very top,

which is especially true of kitchen sets andbentwood furniture, as well as ofupholstered and office furniture.

LegislationThere are no problems concerninglegislation, as EU legislation in the area offurniture has been fully transposed intoCzech laws and regulations. This appliesprimarily to furniture testing standards.Another important aspect is the applicationof the new system of registration,evaluation, and authorisation of chemicals(REACH). Estimates indicate thatmanufacturers will incur only slight costincreases due to its application with nosubsequent impact on employment or the

prices of finished products, so theircompetitiveness will not suffer.

Further DevelopmentCzech furniture products are in long-termgreat demand abroad. Following theCR’s joining the EU, furniture manufacturersexperienced no sales problems, which isattested by their success at trade fairs andexhibitions held both in the Czech Republicand abroad. It can be said that the futuredevelopment of production and tradewithin the sector rests primarily in the handsof Czech manufacturers and managers.

■

NADOP furniturePh

oto:

NA

DO

P ar

chiv

es

High Standard of the Furniture Industry

Miloslav Žďárek, Ministry of Industry and Trade, e-mail: zdarek@mpo.cz, www.mpo.cz

Furniture making is an important sectorof the Czech manufacturing industry. Inthe NACE branch classification ofeconomic activities, it is identified as36.1.

Production ProcessesMost furniture manufacturers use pre-processed wood or wood products,especially agglomerated materials,plywood and veneer, as their main rawmaterials. The production process is notdetrimental to human health or to theenvironment. A characteristic feature ofthis industry is its high material demand,which accounts for up to 80 % of totalcosts. Furniture product ranges includethree-piece suites, living room, nursery,and bedroom furniture, furniture forother living quarters, kitchen furniture,furniture for the fitting of offices,banks, hospitals, health and otherfacil ities, shops, as well as otherfurniture, such as metal, solitary, andcomplementary pieces.

An advantage for manufacturers isthat most of the basic wood materialsare of domestic origin (dimensiontimber, boards, veneer, balks, etc.).Exotic veneer and certain groups ofproducts (paints, varnishes, furniturefixtures, supplementary materials, andauxiliary preparations) are imported.

Top Standards in FurnitureManufactureAmong the different categories ofproducts, the highest standards areboasted in particular by bentwood

furniture. Recently, kitchen and officefurniture has also come to be highlyvalued. The range of solitary furniture(individual pieces of furniture for halls,sitting rooms, etc.) offered primarily bysmal l manufacturers pract ica l lythroughout the entire country, is mostsatisfactory.

Position of CompaniesFrom the regional structure point of view,furniture making is most stronglyrepresented in the South MoraviaRegion, although the industry sector ispresent in practically all regions. Thereare over 500 registered furnituremanufacturers with 10 or moreemployees in the Czech Republic. Themost dominant position is held byJITONA, a.s. of Soběslav (www.jitona.cz),especially after its merger with Tusculum,a.s. of Rousínov (veneered and laminatedfurniture, bedroom furniture,upholstered furniture), alongside TON,a.s. of Bystřice pod Hostýnem (www.ton.cz – bentwood seating furniture),and KORYNA NÁBYTEK, a.s. of Koryčany(www.koryna.cz – kitchen furniture,medical fittings).

ProductionRevenue from the sale of own productsand services in the furniture industry hasbeen showing a steady rise in the pastfew years, as has productivity derivedfrom added value. This favourabledevelopment is all the more valuable, asit is accompanied by a gradual reductionof the workforce in the industry.

The productivity of labour derived fromadded value is moving in the rightdirection, mainly as a result of thecontinuously increasing share of highquality products with higher addedvalue. In spite of this, an even highergrowth rate would be desirable. In thisrespect, the construction of one or morelarge-scale furniture factories withhighly productive operat ions andmodern machinery, poss ibly withforeign capital investment, would bewelcome.

Foreign TradeMore than 80 % of furniture exportsare targeted at the EU internal market,resulting in the improvement of thecountry’s trade economy. Unit exportprices are growing at a faster rate thanimport pr ices. In 2006, trade infurn i ture (accord ing to s tandardclassification) showed a surplus of EUR749 million. From a geographical pointof view, Czech furniture is exportedprimarily to EU states, in particularGermany, the United Kingdom, andAustria although certain kinds offurniture (bentwood) are exported ona long-term basis to the United Statesof America. In the past few years, andin particular in 2006, Czech kitchenfurn i ture has been increas ing lysuccessful on the US market. It ismarked for its quality, both in terms ofworkmanship and technical standard,wi th bu i l t - in modern e lect r i ca lappl iances (cookers , d i shwasher,refrigerators, etc.).

5 |

C Z E C H F U R N I T U R E I N D U S T R Y

In terms of the main and economically most closely monitored indicators, the furniture industry (NACE 36.1) displayed thefollowing development over the past five years:

Indicator Unit 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Revenues from the sale of own products and services (constant prices) EUR million 1 675 1 534 1 663 1 943 2 002

Average number of employees persons 43 938 43 912 42 868 40 414 39 769

Exports (Standard classification of products) (SKP) EUR million 1 213 1 234 1 418 1 482 1 566

Imports (SKP) EUR million 458 511 650 684 817

Productivity derived from added value EUR/employee 11 757 10 498 12 599 13 608 14 968

A N A LY S I S

| 6

Investments in the SectorAs regards investment incentives,furniture is not a sector in receipt ofsystematic investment support. Thereare few new furniture factories, andinvestments are directed primarily atmachinery and equipment. Modernmachine technology is very important toensure good functional parameters ofproducts, as well as top quality and highproductivity of labour. Besides technicalaspects, great attention is paid tofurniture design. Exhibitions of moderndesign, covering furniture, lightingfixtures and interior accessories, areheld regularly in Prague’s Trade FairPalace, under the auspices of theMinister of Industry and Trade.

Competitiveness of EnterprisesInternat ional compar isons ofcompetitiveness have shown that Czechfurniture manufacturers have madegreat progress in recent years. Incomparison with neighbouring Austriaand Germany, Czech manufacturershave s igni f icant ly improved theproductivity of labour derived fromadded va lue, which i s nowapprox imate ly 70-75% of theproductivity of these two leading EUstates. In the case of selected Czechbentwood furniture or kitchen setmanufacturers, the current level ofproductivity derived from added value iseven closer to that of those twocountries. It is of interest to note thatmore furniture is made in the CzechRepublic each year than in Austria,Portugal, or Finland.

Cluster InitiativeA very important inc idence forfurn i ture manufacturers was thecreation of a "cluster" co-operative inBrno in June 2006. It groups selectedorganisations from the South Moravia,Vysočina, Pardubice, and HradecKrálové Regions. The cluster is dividedinto working groups for each of themain world territories. In Europe theseterritories are Germany + Austria +Switzerland, the Ukraine + RussianFederation, and overseas the USA +Canada. The Russ ian Federat ionespecially offers good prospects formarket penet ra t ion , as Russ ianspending on furniture is, for the timebeing, s ix t imes lower than theEuropean average. Russia's increasingeconomic power and the growingstandard of living of its population will

open up great possibilities for ourmanufacturers and exporters.

Future Development Prospects The prospects of the furniture sector inthe Czech Republic are promising. Theresults the industry has achieved inrecent years, together with a sufficientsupply of domestic raw materials, augurwell for its further growth. All this isfurther supported by the CzechRepublic’s current legislation, which isful ly compatible with EU law. Inaddition, the industry is not facing anyenvironmental issues, as furnitureproduction meets the requirements ofCzech legislation and EU directives,inc luding requirements on waste

processing. The sector is continuouslyintroducing Best Available Techniques(BAT), and it recognises the necessity ofobserving the principles of the newREACH chemica l pol icy. Anotherimportant consideration is the humanfactor. Consequently, the growth of theindustry wi l l much depend onmanagerial skills. Improving these skillsis a continuous and demanding taskfacing the owners and managers offurniture organisations.

■

TONSTER chairPh

oto:

Des

ign

Cen

tre

arch

ives

Current Trends in the Manufacture of Upholstered Furniture

Helena Prokopová, Guild of Upholsterers and Decorators, e-mail: cech_cal@volny.cz, www.cech-cal.eu, www.volny.cz/cech_cal

A N A LY S I S

| 8

The Czech Lands have always beena traditional manufacturer of high-qual i ty upholstered furniture.Upholstered furniture is a dominantfeature of every interior, which isfurthermore in immediate contact withthe human body, thus direct lyinfluencing the health of its user.

Consequently, the new trend infurniture making is to create perfectproducts individually adjusted to theirspecific function and the personal needsof each customer.

The History of UpholsteredFurniture Links Up With thePresentCzech upholstery making follows on toa historical tradition of sophisticatedupholstery that employed multilevelspringing (compressive springs havebeen used to make upholstered furnitureever since they were invented in Viennain 1800; in England they were patentedas late as 1828) and was appreciated forits utility properties, attractive appearance,

and excellent workmanship. Since thosetimes, the upholstery trade has rapidlypicked up the use of materials andtechnologies unknown before. The useof light metal frames in the manufacture

of upholstered chairs, armchairs, andsofas in the 1920s and 1930s wasa pioneering deed, still inspiring today.The current trend tends towards the useof metal and wood in the manufactureof the visible frames of upholsteredfurniture. An appealing design, comfort,new materials of high quality, moderntechnologies and processing are amongthe common requirements of discerningcustomers both at home and abroad.

Modern ProductionThe manufacture of high-qual i tyupholstered furniture naturally requiresskill and the personal involvement ofeach worker, as wel l as moderncomputer-controlled machines. Eachupholstered piece must be accuratelydesigned and manufactured. During theassembly of positioning and expandingsystems, fixtures, as well as powercontrolled systems, millimetre accuracy isessential. All upholstery materials,especially third-generation polyurethanefoams and technological constructions,must be selected and manufactured withthe utmost care. Pre-fabrication suppliercentres are of great help. They not onlyshape soft polyurethane foams, but alsosupply entire frames made of severalImpuls collection

Dona collection

Phot

o: G

uild

of

Uph

olst

erer

s an

d D

ecor

ator

s ar

chiv

es

9 |

C Z E C H F U R N I T U R E I N D U S T R Y

The Association of Furniture ManufacturersContributes to Development of Sector

The Association of Czech FurnitureManufacturers (ACN), the most importantbranch association in the Czech Republic,was established in 1995 with the aim oftaking up the country’s old carpentrytraditions. The purpose of ACN is tosupport and represent the commoninterests of Czech legal entities andnatural persons engaged in furnituredevelopment, production, and trade ona national and international level.

Most ACN members are furnituremanufacturers or manufacturers offurniture components. The Association’smembership base also includes vocationalschools. With over 120 members, bothregular and extraordinary, ACN accountsfor more than 40 % of all furnitureproduction in the Czech Republic.

Activities of the AssociationThe Association’s activities includeindustrial lobbying to protect thecommon interests of entities operating inthe area of furniture production, sale, anddesign, and to provide services in supportof the furniture making sector.ACN's activities also focus on thepromotion of Czech furniture, the

publication of statist ical data,organisation of seminars, collectivebargaining, organisation of differentprojects to support the sale of furnituremade in the Czech Republic. TheAssociation of Czech FurnitureManufacturers is a member of the UnionEuropéenne de l’Ameublement (UEA)based in Brussels, which brings togetherthe national associations of Europeanstates. Membership of this organisationmakes it possible for associations toobtain information about what is goingon in Europe and elsewhere in the worldin the furniture-making sector. Asa member, ACN has the opportunity topromote interests of the Czech furnitureindustry on the European level.

ACN’s Current ProjectsIn 2006, the Association became theadministrator of the Czech Quality –Furniture label. To this day, it has awardedsix quality certificates.

In the same year, ACN took the firststeps towards support for design, co-operation with architects, and support forprogrammes with a design focus.

For 2007 and 2008, preparation is

underway for co-operation with theMinistry of Industry and Trade, theMinistry of Foreign Affairs, and theMinistry of the Environment. It aims topromote contacts with embassies of theCzech Republic, with commercialcounsellors participating in foreignmissions, and with the embassies offoreign countries in Prague. The purposeof these activities is to seek out new tradeoutlets for ACN members.

ACN continues to promote the CzechQuality–Furniture label with the aim ofmaking the general public as well asprofessionals better informed about thelabel by issuing printed prospectuses,organising lectures, publishing articles inperiodicals and other forms of mediapromotion.

An integral part of the Association’swork involves co-operation with theCluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturersin its second phase, i.e. practicalrealisation.

■

Tomáš Lukeš, Association of Czech Furniture Manufacturers, e-mail: acn@czechfurniture.com, www.czechfurniture.com

kinds of foam glued together, with built-in metal or other spring frames andelements. Effective transfer of technicalinformation is essent ia l for themaintenance and further developmentof the proficiency of Czech and Slovakmanufacturers.

For this reason, manufacturers definethe needs of modern upholsteredfurniture production via the FurnitureMakers’ Sector Council (the setting up ofsector councils in the CR is based on theEnglish model) and vocational schools

then incorporate these requirements intotheir curricula. Upholstery production isimmensely interesting and as such hasgiven rise to a new phenomenon inrecent years. For example, more thana dozen re-qualified cabinet-makers areworking as upholsterers at Böhm ofJihlava.

Upholsterers Display Productsboth at Home and AbroadCzech upholsterers display theirproducts at leading world furniture fairs.

They export to demanding European andoverseas markets and justifiably receivenominations for best products of theyear and are awarded prizes in variouscategories. For instance, the GRANDPRIX in the advanced mater ia l /technology category at the MOBITEX2007 international furniture fair wasawarded to the FLOWERFLEX® Motorbed frame designed by AHORN CZ, s.r.o.

■

A N A LY S I S

| 10

The Cluster of Czech Furniture ManufacturersPromotes Export and Innovation

Martina Bartoňová, Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers, co-operative, e-mail: info@furniturecluster.cz, www.furniturecluster.cz

The Cluster of Czech FurnitureManufacturers, co-operative (CCFM) wasestablished in 2006. Its principal aim is topursue a common export-oriented policyfocusing on Russia, the Ukraine, Canada,and German-speaking countries, with thesupport of CzechInvest and CzechTrade,and to promote the innovation ofproducts and research activities of itsmembers.

Members of the Cluster Presentat Trade FairsThe members of the cluster display theirproducts at some of the most prestigiousworld fairs and exhibitions. CCFMpresented itself successfully in the Ukrainetwice at the Kiev Expo Mebel Fair, inOctober 2006 and March 2007. In January2007, the cluster presented an exhibitionat the Toronto International HomeFurnishing Market, Canada. Another wayin which the cluster promotes Czechbusinesses on foreign markets, especiallyin the Ukraine and Canada, is byconducting marketing studies. On thedomestic market, the cluster presenteditself at the MOBITEX InternationalFurniture Fair in Brno in March 2007.

Promoter of InnovationThe chief aim of the CCFM is to supportthe innovative activities of its members. Inthe area of research and development,these activities are concentrated withinthe CCFM Testing Laboratory at theMendel University of Agriculture andForestry in Brno, which provides facilitiesfor the research and development of newtechnologies, the mechanical, physical,and chemical properties of products, forthe analysis of products to ascertain thepresence of volatile substances containedwithin them so as to meet EU standards,and the analysis of the properties ofcoatings, the safety of furniture, andresearch in the area of design and livingaesthetics.

■

With its 32 members, the CCFM is one of the largest clusters in the CzechRepublic

3Q PROJECT, a.s. www.3qproject.cz

ADYTON Hydraulik, spol. s r.o. www.adyton.cz

AHORN CZ, s.r.o. www.ahorn.cz

AKSAMITE, spol. s r.o. www.aksamite.cz

ASSOCIATION OF CZECH FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS www.czechfurniture.com

BÖHM, spol. s r.o. www.bohm-ji.cz

DABI EXPO, a.s. www.dabi.cz

DIPRO, výrobní družstvo invalidů www.dipro-prosec.cz

DREVOTVAR.COM, družstvo www.drevotvar.com

DRING Consulting, s.r.o. www.dringbrno.cz

DRUPOL, výrobní družstvo www.drupol.cz

DŘEVODÍLO Rousínov, výrobní družstvo www.drevodilo-rousinov.cz

DŘEVOJAS, výrobní družstvo www.drevojas.cz

DŘEVOTVAR družstvo Jablonné nad Orlicí www.drevotvar.cz

DŘEVOTVAR, výrobní družstvo Znojmo www.drevotvarznojmo.cz

DŘEVOZPRACUJÍCÍ DRUŽSTVO Lukavec www.ddl.cz

FMP-LIGNUM, výrobní družstvo www.fmplignum.cz

INT, s.r.o. www.int-cz.com

J. LEDVINA a spol. – spol. s r.o. (woodworking and construction) www.ledvina-nabytek.cz

KNK CZ, výrobně spotřební družstvo www.knk.cz

KOVO, výrobní družstvo www.kovovd.cz

MENDEL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY IN BRNO www.mendelu.cz

M-KUPR, s.r.o. www.m-kupr.cz

NADOP-VÝROBA NÁBYTKU, s.r.o. www.nadop.cz

PAVEL KODYTEK www.nabytek.cz

ROMAN BLANÁŘ www.blanar.cz

SAMAS Česká republika, spol. s r.o. www.samas.cz

UNION OF CZECH AND MORAVIAN PRODUCTION CO-OPERATIVES www.scmvd.cz

TERCO CB, a.s. www.terco.cz

TRADE FAIRS BRNO, a.s. www.bvv.cz

VLABO, s.r.o. www.vlabo.cz

WIESNER-HAGER Bohemia, spol. s r.o. www.wiesner-hager.com

ASON – Studio of Furniture for Healthy Sittingand Sleeping

| 12

E N T E R P R I S E

ASON was founded in 1982 as a family business specialisingin the manufacture and development of mattresses, slattedframes, sofas, and armchairs. Today it is a leading, purelyCzech manufacturer of made-to-order products for healthysitting and sleeping.

Ason furniture is marked for its individual design, goodquality and practical and original technical solutions, whichsupport the user’s locomotive system.

To learn more about how business in the sector is going, weaddressed the company’s co-owner, Ms Jana Kolingerová.

Can you give us a brief description of yourproduction programme?We manufacture functional upholstered furniture, mostlywith steel frames that enable the folding, positioning,swinging, tilting, and swivelling of individual pieces which arefitted with removable covers for easy maintenance andchanging. We also manufacture beds, sofas, chairs, threepiece suites, chairs for dynamic sitting, as well as chairs anddesks, furniture for children’s bedrooms, hotels andrestaurants, accessories and decorations.

You specialise in customised furniture making.What are its advantages and disadvantages?Our greatest advantage is in fact made-to-order furnitureitself, which is what makes us unique. What may appear to bea disadvantage is the complexity of the production processwhich leads to higher prices. Nevertheless, the experience wehave gained during the 25 years of our existence has secureda firm place for us on the market.

Can you mention someof your most importantcustomers and orders?Most orders are delivereddirectly to the customer. It ispossible to say that each pieceis more or less an originalmade to the customer’s order.Our customers are mainlyind iv idua l s and of tenprominent persons ,sometimes hotels, boarding-houses, nursery schools, andother institutions.

How are you faring onforeign markets?Our foreign customers arechiefly businesses in Lithuaniaand Slovakia, to whom we sellespec ia l l y fo ld-out sofas ,which are in short supplythere and thus complementthe local range well.

You manufacture furniture for healthy sitting andsleeping. Can you explain the principle uponwhich the so-called dynamic sitting adapter isbased?The patent is based on the principle that although you mayhave a solid chair and you wish to sit dynamically, you neednot throw it away. You merely need to remove its wheels andfit a dynamic adapter instead. In addition to wheels, thedynamic adapter has five special springs that allow you tomove while remaining seated, thus keeping important musclesections around the spine in motion. It is comfortable anduseful, and reduces fatigue, thus increasing performance.And in the long run it acts as prevention, counteractingdegenerative and deforming processes in the region of thespine.

Naďa Vávrová

Phot

o: A

SON

arc

hive

s

Products of the ASON company

TECHO – Specialist in the Furnishing of Commercial Interiors

Markéta Pomšárová-Židlická, TECHO a.s., e-mail: marketa.pomsarova@stance.cz, www.techo.cz

W E A R E I N T R O D U C I N G

| 14

TECHO is one of the largest providers ofcomprehensive serv ices for thefurnishing of commercial interiors inCentral and East Europe. It is also animportant manufacturer of off icefurniture in the Czech Republic. Itssubsidiaries operate in the UnitedKingdom, Romania, Slovakia, andHungary. In 2006, TECHO, a.s .generated a profit of nearly EUR 1.5million before tax, its highest ever profit.

Successful ExporterIn 2006, the largest volume of thecompany’s exports went to the UnitedKingdom, followed by Romania andSlovakia. TECHO’s main contracts werethose for Queen Mary University, ÖMV,Johnson Controls, and Lenovo. Inaddition to the mentioned countries,TECHO also exports a significant amountof its output to Russia, Hungary, WestEuropean countries, Africa, and NorthAmerica. "From a global point of view,we are becoming increasingly interestedin regions within Central and EastEurope, where the economic situation iscontinuously improving," said thecompany's Managing Director, Jiří Kejval.In order to meet growing exportdemands, the company expanded itswood processing capacities in 2006,which it equipped with a modernwoodworking centre worth EUR 350000. This expansion resulted in a 23%increase in the manufacture and sale of

the company’s products. At the sametime the company was obliged toincrease the stocks of its input materialsby 60%, so as to respond promptly toextremely short lead times demanded byforeign customers, usually of no morethan seven days.

Key ProjectsOne of the most important Czech projectscarried out by the company in terms ofoffice interiors was the interior furnishingof the Czech National Bank. This order,completed in 1999, was ongoing foralmost two years and generateda turnover of EUR 11.9 million. Anotherimportant project in the company'sportfolio was work on the interior of the

Sazka Arena in therun-up to the 2004Ice Hockey WorldC h a m p i o n s h i p s .The volume of thisorder wascomparable to thatof the CNB project,although it wascompleted ina record time of sixmonths.

CompanyDevelopmentA landmark in the

company’s development came in 2005,when the Dutch group Royal Ahrend NVbecame its main shareholder. TECHOhad long co-operated with the group,one of the five largest office furnituremanufacturers in Europe. In 2006,TECHO completely re-instal led itsshowroom, the TECHOCENTRUM, whichnewly includes open-plan office space.The new TECHOCENTRUM imagereflects the future appearance of officeinteriors that will resemble a "café". Theaim of the new special arrangement ofthe showroom is to approximate theeveryday functioning of company officesas much as possible and to open it upmore to those within the industry. Thenew face of the TECHOCENTRUM wasdesigned by ADR – an architecturalstudio founded and run by architectsAleš Lapka and Petr Kolář. Prague’sTECHOCENTRUM is situated in a formerfactory hall, as are TECHO’s manyshowrooms in other countries. Thecommon denominator of a l lTECHOCENTRES is the presentation ofreal installations, with corporate identityelements, including the prominent useof red etc.

■TECHO has furnished ČEZ Company interiors

View of the TECHOCENTRUM interior in a converted factory hall in Praha-Hostivař

Phot

o: T

ECH

O a

rchi

vess

15 |

C Z E C H F U R N I T U R E I N D U S T R Y

Sofa Full of Senses for Sigmund Freud

The Design Centre of the Czech Republicis an organisation managed by theMinistry of Industry and Trade of the CR.Its chief mission is to provide informationon how to incorporate design intoa company's development. Furthermore,the Centre monitors the quality of designof Czech industrial production. TheCentre organises design competitionsand awards pr izes at therecommendation of an international jury.

Furniture Competitions of the Design CentreSince its founding in 1991, the DesignCentre of the Czech Republic hasorganised 16 annual competitions forExcellent Product of the Year. Each year,around 25 works are chosen from morethan a thousand products, one of whichis awarded the National Design Prize, andthe Excellent Design and Good Designawards. These prizes are a greatmotivation for the manufacturers as, forone thing, they give consumers theguarantee of a well-designed product,and, for another, they give the productsan edge in competition with rival itemson the market. Two years ago, a newcompetition aimed at young designerswas launched, so now students also havetheir National Prize and Excellent andGood Design awards. Other successfulprojects include the Czech Chair and theCzech Interior competitions which haveinternational participation. By holdingcompetitions for new product designs,the Design Centre of the CR is alsohelping manufacturers. One such event isthe "One size fits all" competition for thebest innovation of seating furniture forTON, a manufacturer with a longtradition in bentwood furniture making.Another is the "Journey through time,journey to the future" competition for mm inter ior® of Luhačovice,a manufacturer of high-qual i tyupholstered furniture.

Exhibitions of the Design CentreAnother important activity of the DesignCentre of the CR, besides organisingcompetit ions, is the holding of

exhibitions. Its two galleries are situatedin the vaulted rooms of a historicalbuilding in the centre of Brno and inPrague’s renowned Mozarteum. Here,the Design Centre displays winningdesigns of the most importantcompetitions to the public, acquaintsvisitors with selected collections offoreign design and systematical lysupports young designers. Exhibitionsprepared by the Design Centre areinstalled in many partner institutions inthe Czech Republic and other countries.A complete collection of Czech 1990 –2005 design, for instance, was on displayat the National Gallery in Prague, as wellas in several important design institutionsin leading European cities, such as theRed Dot Design Museum inEssen, the Design FlandersGallery in Brussels, and theDesign Austria gal lery inVienna’s Museumsquartier.

Art and InteriorExhibitions featuring furniturehave always been a successamong the public. The Mysteryof the Table, The Czech Chairand the Sofa Full of Senses forSigmund Freud exhibitions,the latter arranged to markthe psychoanalyst’s 150thbirthday anniversary, a l lattracted visitors of every agecategory. The topic of the"Table" was chosen for theopening of the new Brnogallery after the institutionwas moved from its originallocat ion in the JakubskéSquare. Tables of a variety ofshapes, of different materialsand serving different purposespresented a colourful reviewof possibilities, approaches,and artistic expression. TheCzech Chair exhibition waspresented in i ts mostcomprehensive form in theNational Gal lery inPrague’s Veletržní Palace,where it was arranged as an

accompanying event of the Art & InteriorFair. Items on display included both mass-produced pieces of advanced designmade by Czech companies and originalpieces and furniture representing moreor less open art. On the other hand, theexhibition of sofas and furniture piecesdesigned by invited Czech artists inhonour of Sigmund Freud was ofa somewhat different character. Thisoriginally modest plan turned out to bea successful project, which also found itsway outside the Czech Republic, toVienna.

More at www.designcentrum.cz

Karel Kobosil, Dagmar Koudelková, Design Centre of the Czech Republic, e-mail: kobosil@designcentrum.cz,koudelkova@designcentrum.cz, www.designcentrum.cz

phot

o: D

esig

n C

entr

e ar

chiv

es

Sofa Full of Senses for Sigmund Freud Exhibition

TON – Seating Furniture Specialist

Martina Doláková, TON a.s., e-mail: martina.dolakova@ton.cz, www.ton.eu

| 18

C Z E C H T O P

The history of bentwood furnituremaking dates back to the year 1861,when carpenter Michael Thonet,inventor of bentwood technology, set upa factory at Bystřice pod Hostýnem.

Today, TON a.s. is one of the largestmanufacturers of wooden seatingfurniture in Europe. I ts broadprogramme comprises chairs, bar stools,armchairs, tables, coat stands, andgarden furniture. The company's annualoutput is one million pieces, most ofwhich are exported to the EuropeanUnion, the United States of America,Japan, and Australia.

Production ProgrammeTON a.s. offers chairs of conventional

design, which are a contemporaryupdate of Thonet technology. Theirdesign and use properties have beentested by decades. Modern chairs aremade so as to meet the requirements ofthe contemporary life style of modernman, who seeks not only quality, butalso an interesting and purposefuldesign.

At present, the company offersa special range suitable for both thehome and commercial interiors. Itspieces are made with different shades ofstained wood and upholstery fabrics,leathers and eco-leathers.

The HOME furniture range isa selection of pieces designed for thehouse, the flat, and the garden.

HOREKA furniture is a selection ofmodels for professional use, which fullymeet even the most demandingrequirements on seating furniture forindoor and outdoor use.

TON’s outstanding new items includethe NET, MASQUE, and COVO+ range.

The company’s product portfolio alsoincludes made-to-order theatre seats,with furniture orders especially fortheatres and concert halls in bothhistorical and modern buildings.

Unique DesignThe TONSTER range with its unique andunrepeatable design and youthfulappearance is the outcome of thecompany’s co-operation with Italiandesigner Tom Kelley. A metal framecombined with solid bentwood beechand beech veneer forms modern andvariable furniture pieces.

Successful ExporterExports account for more than 70 % ofthe company’s total output. TON exportsits furniture to over 40 countries, themost important of which are the USA,EU states, Japan, and Australia.

An example of Ton's success on foreignmarkets is an order for seated furnitureworth approx. EUR 35 000 for Hotel deFrance on the Normandy Islands. Othercontracts worth mentioning include anorder for armchairs intended for a libraryin Tunisia or an order for chairs for thehotels Innere Enge in Bern, Switzerland,Hotel Chateau in Berlin, Germany, HotelMistral in Athens, Greece, and the RyanThai restaurant in Helsinki, Finland.

Awards Won by TONIn 2006, Ton won the "Excellent Design"award in the "Excellent Product of2006" competition organised by theDesign Centre of the CR each year, forits collection of chairs.

■DOMŮ interior, chairs from the NET collection Phot

o: T

ON

arc

hive

s

C Z E C H F U R N I T U R E I N D U S T R Y

19 |

The Böhm Trademark – Furniture with an Image

Jaroslav Frantál, BÖHM, spol. s r.o., e-mail: frantal@bohm-ji.cz, www.bohm-ji.cz

BÖHM, spol. s r.o. was established in1992. Today it is one of the mostimportant manufacturers ofupholstered furniture in the Czech

Republ ic. BÖHM has its roots inGermany, however in 2006 it becamea purely Czech company. Although atfirst up to 80 % of its output wasdestined for the demanding markets ofEU countries, today its upholsteredthree-piece suites are increasinglypopular on the Czech market. Its long-term co-operat ion wi th Germanbusinesses is very valuable for thedevelopment and design of three-piecesuites, as is its direct contact withcustomers, the ideas and experience ofwhom the company appreciates.

Image of Designer ProductProduction is based on a designerproduct image and bears its basicattributes, i.e. attested material quality,emphasis on thorough workmanshipand continuous innovation. The wideproduct range offers customers a choicefrom a broad supply of functional andpractical upholstered furniture, as wellas a selection of exquisite pieces, eachof which is an expression of a particularl i fe s ty le . Customers expect animaginative design bearing elements ofluxury. At present, the greatest demand

is for modern three-piece suites in pastelcolours, with upholstery fabrics in teflonfinish, which guarantees durable andvery comfortable use.

Exports are DominantIn 2006, the company’s turnoveramounted to nearly EUR 3.5 million.BÖHM exports a major part of its outputto many countries worldwide (including

Germany, Switzer land, Austr ia ,Canada, the USA, Slovenia).

BÖHM at Trade FairsEach year, the company attends themost important fairs in the CzechRepublic, such as Mobitex Brno, NewDesign and Trends Prague, wherecompany products - Elba, Verona,Domino, and a functionalist classicalleather collection - have previously beennominated for the best design award.

EU ProjectsBÖHM partakes in a number of projectsco-financed by the European Union.

For example, it invests in programmesaimed at increasing the quality ofhuman resources co-financed by theEuropean Social Fund as well as the CRstate budget through the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade of the CR and theLabour Office in Jihlava.

Furthermore, BÖHM has obtainedassistance from the European RegionalDevelopment Fund and the Ministry ofIndustry and Trade of the CR for itsexport activities in North America.

New Items Launched in 2007For 2007, the company prepared severalnew modern three-piece suites, e.g. theVaria, Verona, Napoli, Florence, andBlock models, which were presented atthe 2007 Trends autumn fair in Prague-Letňany. ■

Lyon suite

Ancona suite Phot

o: B

öhm

arc

hive

s

The Largest Czech Exporter on the FurnitureMarket

Jan Grznár, JITONA a.s., e-mail: jitona@jitona.cz, www.jitona.cz

C Z E C H T O P

| 20

JITONA a.s. is currently the largest Czechfurniture manufacturer and exporter. Itmanufactures bedroom furniture (beds,bedside tables, chests of drawers), living-room furniture (show-cases, chests ofdrawers, shelves, conference tables),dining-room furniture (tables, chairs,sideboards), and seating sets (armchairs,sofas, tabourets).

Company HistoryJITONA is building on the furniture

making tradition of the region’s firms:Jihočeské továrny nábytkářské (SouthBohemian Furniture Factory) founded in1951, Tusculum Rousínov, and Spojenéumělecko průmyslové závody Brno (UP)founded in 1920. These companiespioneered the transition from artisanproduction to the industrial manufactureof high quality furniture, thus makingthe product affordable to the broadpublic. In 1937, UP Works was thelargest furniture manufacturer in

Europe, which serves to show the specialposition JITONA’s predecessors held atthat time.

Production ProgrammeJITONA’s current production programmecomprises leather and fabric upholsteredfurniture as well as wooden furniture. Inaddition, Jitona manufactures veneereddismantable ready-to-assemble furniture(for self-assembly by the customer)which may be combined with foil in

birch, beech, heart beech,oak, maple, cherry-wood,walnut, or teak finish. Theproduct portfolio alsoinc ludes so l id-woodfurniture and combinedsol id-wood veneeredfurniture which comes ina spruce, pine, beech,oak, or birch finish.

New Items on theMarketJITONA a.s. is expandingits production programmeto include high gloss foil-finish furniture. The newacquisition of moderntechnology will enable themanufacture of batchproduction components(mainly doors), at thesame t ime al lowinga flexible response to the requirements ofcustomers with respect todesign and shades ofcolour. High glosselements will expand thecurrent range, especiallythe manufacture ofbedroom furniture, livingroom panels , andbathroom furniture.

■JITONA sitting room furniture Phot

o: J

ITO

NA

arc

hive

s

C Z E C H T O P

| 22

Modern Creative Kitchens

Petra Malíková, KORYNA nábytek, a.s., e-mail: petra.malikova@koryna.cz, www.koryna.cz

KORYNA nábytek, a.s . i sa Czech manufacturer andsupplier of kitchen furniture.The company’s history datesback to 1856, when MichaelThonet founded a bentwoodfurniture factory in Koryčany,the first of its kind in Europe.Since then, the factory haspassed through a rich historicaldevelopment. In 1990,KORYNA became a stateenterprise, transformed in 1997into KORYNA nábytek, a.s.,a 100% Czech-owned jointstock company. Today, KORYNAnábytek is one of leadingkitchen furniture manufacturersin the CR. Its core product iscustom-made kitchen furnituredesigned and made to theindividual requirements ofbuyers. The company alsomanufactures office furniture,medical furniture, and furniture for thehandicapped. At present KORYNAnábytek is expanding its range to includeliving room furniture and wardrobes.

KORYNA is the only manufacturer ofkitchen furniture in the CR with over 50kitchen studios that offer products bothto end users and construct ioncompanies, such as Skanska, Hochtief,and Orco.

Modern and EconomicalKitchensCustomers are offered a wide range ofdes igns, d iv ided into four maincategories:"Lamino" are modern, economicallyundemanding kitchens that come in thewidest range of pastel shades anda wide choice of imitation wood tomatch the kitchen body. The advantageof this kitchen furniture is its easymaintenance and a very reasonablepurchase price.

"Foi l" is a group most broadlyrepresented in the programmes ofkitchen furniture manufacturers. Itscharacteristic features are a wide rangeof shades, an attractive design, anda reasonable price, in addition to easymaintenance.

"Solid wood" furniture representsa classic, ageless trend, a uniqueoriginal. This type offers the widestchoice of front surfaces in terms ofwood shade and staining. Its advantagelies in the possibility of harmonising thekitchen with the dining room or livingroom.

"Varnish" kitchens - here emphasis isplaced not only on design, but also oneasy maintenance and the highestquality of the surface. A great advantageof this type of kitchen is its smooth, non-porous surface, which meets the strictesthygienic criteria.

Export ActivitiesKORYNA nábytek, a.s. is a successfulexporter - its exports account for 22.6 %of total output. Its largest foreigncustomers are companies in Slovakia andKazakhstan, where sales are operated bysubsidiaries controlled directly by thecompany management. Sales to thesetwo countries account for more than 60 % of total exports.

KORYNA’s other traditional exportmarkets include the Ukraine, Russia,Lithuania, Latvia, Croatia, and Bulgaria.Prospective markets are those of theUnited Kingdom and Moldavia. The

company’s contacts with Sochi insouthern Russia, the venue for the 2014Winter Olympic Games, also showpromise. This event will stimulatemassive economic development ofinfrastructure throughout the entireregion.

Each of KORYNA’s foreign studiospursues a trade policy identical to that ofthe Czech model. Each comprisesa specialised salesroom with well-trainedpersonnel and a warehouse directly atthe point of sale and provides delivery tothe customer’s home, as wel l asassembly of the kitchen units andinstallation of appliances.

Kitchen of the Year 2007In 2007, KORYNA nábytek, a.s .participated in the Mobitex 2007international furniture fair, where itsETNA kitchen won the "Kitchen of theYear 2007" award in a competitionorganised by the Brno Trade Fairs in co-operation with the Design Centre of theCR. The Etna kitchen is made of oakveneer stained in a dark shade of wenge,very popular at present, combined withbleached oak. The kitchen was designedby KORYNA’s in-house architect.

■ Phot

o: K

ORY

NA

arc

hive

s

White Ida kitchen

MOBITEX – Presentation of Living and Design

Dagmar Mikulicová, Veletrhy Brno, a.s., e-mail: dmikulicova@bvv.cz, www.bvv.cz

| 24

C Z E C H T O P

The MOBITEX International Fair of Livingis characteristic of its broad programmecovering a wide range of items relating tothe furnishing of interiors, habitation, andtop design. The importance of the fair ishighlighted by the fact that it is organisedunder the auspices of special isedinstitutions, such as the Association ofCzech Furniture Manufacturers, theCluster of Furniture Manufacturers, andthe Guild of Upholsterers and Decorators.

In 2007, exhibitors from 13 countriesparticipated in the fair, with visitorsarriving from 22 states.

Focus on Design An important role at the fair was playedby accompanying projects with a focus onthe presentation of high-quality andadvanced interior design – DESIGNSTORY,TECHNOLOGY & DESIGN, and theDesign4life pavilion. The partner of theseprojects was the Design Centre of theCzech Republic. The tradit ionalDESIGNSTORY project presented originalideas of young designers and students. In2007, the non-commercial competitionfocused on two main themes – kitchensand offices. As part of the project,interesting thematic exhibitions wereorganised, with an inspiring presentation

of three selected experimental kitchendesigns named "Kitchens of the Future".

Another successful project entitled"3x30" involved the furnishing of a smallflat with a surface area of 30 sq. m.Leading Czech architects presentedsolutions for interior designs for seniors,young couples, and "starting flats".

Foreign Guest at the Fair: PeterMalyIt has become a good custom at theinternational fair of living, recognised forits purity of style, quality, and growingprestige, to be opened each year by animportant personality of world design.MOBITEX 2007 was opened in thepresence of Peter Maly, an outstandingGerman designer of Czech origin, whoranks among leading world designers. Atthe fair, he presented famous olderworks, as well as his very latest designs,and also gave lectures about his work aspart of the accompanying programme.

Kitchens and OfficesThe main theme of this year’s fair,Kitchens and Offices, was highlighted bytwo competitions: the "Kitchen of theYear 2007" and "The Best Chair for theOffice". All the kitchens on display were

marked for their high quality of design.The winning ETNA set was commendedfor its pure style, uninfluenced by thewhims of fashion.

The aim of "The Best Chair for theOffice" competition was to present themost interesting chairs used in offices,currently available on the Czech market.The Jury was most impressed by theAMADEUS armchair, designed byItaly’s Giovanni Baccol ini andmanufactured by Stulwerk of Hungary.

Living and Modern TechnologyAnother project of the fair was theTECHNOLOGY & DESIGN project, whichpresented various interior designs wheretop-standard technology had beencombined with a high quality of individualdesign.

This large exhibition showed a variety ofsolutions combining technological and atthe same highly aesthetic values.Whether one visited the living roomfurnished in Asian style, or the luxurybathroom resounding with music releasedby a multi-room system, everywherevisitors could view technical equipmentperfectly matched with elegant modernfurniture and accessories.

MOBITEX Grand PrixItems that contribute something new tothe field of design or are a source ofinspiration for their original concept orworkmanship are awarded the MobitexGrand Prix at the fair each year. In theadvanced design category, the highestaward went to the Cemia furniture set,designed for Ligne Roset by Peter Maly,guest of honour at the MOBITEX fair.

In the advanced technology/materialcategory, the award went to a new itementered in the competition by AHORN CZ- its Flowerflex slatted adjustable bedframe. As for works submitted bystudents in the progressive designcategory, the committee awarded themain prize to the OKA-MIH dinner set,designed by Milan Hanko of the Academyof Art, Architecture and Design (VŠUP)Prague.

More on the fair atwww.bvv.cz/mobitexMobitex exhibition – Kitchen of the Future Ph

oto:

BV

V a

rchi

ves

C Z E C H F U R N I T U R E I N D U S T R Y

25 |

Interdisciplinary Studies and Furniture Research

Petr Brunecký, Department of Furniture, Design, and Habitation, Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno, e-mail: brunecky@mendelu.cz, www.ustavnabytku.cz

The study of professional furnituremaking in Brno can be traced back to1954, when the Furniture ResearchInstitute was founded there. In 1965,a furniture testing department was set

up in Brno. In 1989, nearly 250 peoplewere employed in research and the Brnoresearch team greatly contributed to thesuccess of Czech products on foreignmarkets. In 1991, the study of woodindustry disciplines was resumed in Brnoand involved the Furniture Institute. Theyear 2000 saw the opening of coursesfor the study and research of interiortechnologies in an interdisciplinaryinterior-furniture-design combination.

University Furniture StudiesUnl ike specia l i sed univers i typrogrammes, furniture study is nota course covering exclusively technology,or the humanities, or the arts. It isindeed an interdisciplinary programme.

The new furniture engineer ingprogrammes of study are focused on thedesign and manufacture of furniture inall interdisciplinary contexts. An integralpart of the course is the practicalapplication of the results of furniture

research and development in theteaching process. The use andprocessing of wood, a renewable rawmaterial, holds good prospects for thegrowth of the sector. According to the

Ministry of Education, this branch ofstudy is one of the most successfulamong university courses as regardsgraduates’ opportunities on the labourmarket. The ambition of the University isnot only to maintain the currentposition, but to further increase the levelof students’ creativity in order toimprove their career prospects.

Graduates with bachelor degrees canfind work in the designing of furniture,in furniture manufacture, and inconsulting. Their technical profile isa suitable bas is for independententrepreneurship in a medium-sized,small, or family-run business. Uponacquiring teaching skills, they may alsobecome tutors at vocational schools.

The task of master graduates is toapply practically the results of researchand development in the developmentand manufacture of furniture andinterior furnishing with regard to theprevention of civilisation diseases.

The University places emphasis on aninterdisciplinary approach to furnituremaking, on creativity, technical skills,market research, and tradition.

Students’ Achievements in the06/07 Academic YearAt the Mobitex Brno 2006 Grand Prixcompetit ion, Drahomír Nantl wonsecond place in the student category forhis Perspex tea table.

In the competition for the Prof.Halabala 2006 Prize, Eva Šebestíkováwas awarded a prize in the furnituredesign category for her upholstered"Rings". Outside the competition,unofficial prizes were awarded to LukášUrban for his slatted chair and DrahomírNantl for his Perspex tea table.

In the 2006 Czech Chair competition(Design Centre of the CR), the first prizewas awarded to Jan Bajer for his"Kubík" growing chair.

At the Mobitex Brno 2007 Grand Prixcompetition, Jaroslav Svoboda wonsecond place in the student category forhis chair which has an exchangeableinner element.

At the International Students’ Scientificconference, Lucia Haraslímová placedsecond in appreciation of her pioneersc ient i f ic work in the area ofolfactometric determination in theinterior.

At Mobitex 2007, experts singled outthe interior of the "starting flat foryoung couples" by Jiří Tauber andDrahomír Nantl.

In the 2007 Kitchen of the Yearcompetition (Design Centre of the CR),first prize went to Karel Otrhálek,a graduate of the school, for his ETNAKoryna Koryčany kitchen. Karel Nedbaland Iva Kindlová from Nadop Ořechovwere awarded third place for theirCristallo kitchen.

At Mobitex 2007, experts a lsocommended the sofa designed bygraduate Jan Sojnek of Ventus Brno.

Research, Development, andInnovationThe objective of these activities is toincrease capacities in the research ofinterior technology, focused on the

Tea table by Drahomír Nantl, Grand Prix 2nd place at MOBITEX – Designstory

Phot

o: D

epar

tmen

t of

Fur

nitu

re a

rchi

ves

R E S E A R C H & D E V E L O P M E N T

| 26

medical prevention of new civilisationdiseases. The basic task is to ensurepublic safety and health, which meansthe satisfaction of man’s needs on theone hand and the elimination of theconsequences of instrumentalconsumption on the other.

Current knowledge reflects rigidempirical experience and does notcorrespond to the actual requirementsof the modern life style. Anotherrequirement is to consider also theconsequences of the duration of work intime, and not only its benefits at themoment of its monetary realisation. Thepoint is to ensure that chairs, beds,tables, etc. do not have an adverseeffect on people’s health and that theydo not invoke the need for latertreatment. The materials must not havean irritant effect, they must not provokeionopenia, initiate latent diseases,various allergies, pathological changesin organs, somatic or genetic mutationsor teratogenous effects. Anotherimportant aspect is to ensure thatproduction costs, the costs of damageto the environment and the liquidationof the product after the expiry of itsservice life are outbalanced by the realservice rendered by the product. Aninseparable part of research anddevelopment is the research of factorsinfluencing to a large extent the utilityand the life of the product with the aimof suppressing negative factors.

The development of the Department isfounded on team work and broaderinterdisciplinary relations, includingresearch in the area of medicine,hygiene, psychology, and social sciencesapplied to furniture making.

Furniture and DesignNew requirements on furniture, definedin the EU "Ecolabel for Furniture"currently in preparation, clearly showthat furniture making is not the exclusivedomain of artists or technicians, but thatit is an activity that necessitates the workof a very large team. The role of thefurniture expert, the designer, is of keyimportance as he must evaluate all newrequirements and f ind a suitablecompromise so as to satisfy both theuser of the furniture, as well as itsmanufacturer, without having later toremedy the damage done topeople’s health and the environment.The former task - to find an optimumcompromise between the requirementsof consumers and the manufacturer’s

profit - has been broadened to includea new requirement for the use of BestAvai lable Technologies (BAT) andproducts that are friendly towardscustomers, manufacturers, and theenvironment.

Research PrioritiesThe work of the Department focuses onthe research and development offurniture in all its interdisciplinarycontexts. Innovation, development ofproducts, and industrial design aredetermined by the research oftechnological processes that do notendanger the user of the product, theworking milieu, or the environment.Emphasis is placed on the utility andhealth aspects of products, ondevelopment and the use of bestavai lable technologies, theexchangeability of components, thereusing of elements and processes,during which waste is transformed intonew material. The Department pursuesimportant activities to establish thepresence of volatile substances in theinterior as part of a programme for theelimination of pathogenic chemical,physical, and biological elements inproducts. Close co-operation withphysicians, in particular paediatricians, isessential.

Accredited Furniture TestingLaboratoryThe University’s accredited laboratory isan independent part of the Departmentof Furniture, Design, and Habitation. Thetesting laboratory conducts allmanner of tests onwooden andu p h o l s t e r e dfurniture, i tsm e c h a n i c a l ,phys ica l , andc h e m i c a lpropert ies, thepresence offormaldehyde andvolatile substancesin accordance withEU standards. Theaccredited testinglaboratory issuestesting certificatesand carr ies outtest ing for theCzech Qual i tyFurniture award,for Czech Made,and for the

Environmentally Friendly Product label. Itcarries out testing for customers.

Results of Research andDevelopment in the 06/07Academic YearAmong the Department's greatestachievements is the granting to it of twopatents and an industrial design. On thebasis of the results of research, a newtesting method was accredited to theDepartment for determining volatilesubstances emitted by furnitureelements. The research of factors withan impact on the service life of furnitureled to the determination of the influenceof UV radiation components on the lightfastness of furniture and to establishingways of protecting it. Two new Czechtechnical standards have been prepared.The Department has been successful inpresenting grant projects at internationalexhibitions BVV Brno – Mobitex and BVVBrno – Woodtec and has drawn up anoperational design of repl icas offurniture designed by Ludwig Mies, vander Rohe for the Tugendhat Villa.

During the academic year, 10 examplesof the Institute’s scientific work werepresented at five international scientificconferences of European and worldsignificance.

■

Phot

o: D

epar

tmen

t of

Fur

nitu

re a

rchi

ves

Armchair with an exchangeable inside element

27 |

C Z E C H F U R N I T U R E I N D U S T R Y

Poll of Successful Companies Operating in the Furniture Industry

NADOP – VÝROBA NÁBYTKU OŘECHOV s.r.o.

Zahradní 1a, 664 44 Ořechov u Brna, phone: +420 547 225 126, fax: +420 547 225 790, e-mail: info@nadop.cz,www.nadop.cz

Turnover: CZK 130 million – EUR 4.5 millionNumber of employees:135Contact: Mr Jaroslav Pehal, e-mail: jaroslavpehal@nadop.czExport: 25 %, to France, Denmark, the Ukraine

NADOP is a family-run business operating on the furnituremarket since 1990.

Its broad production programme covers made-to-orderkitchens as well as furniture for living rooms, bedrooms,children’s rooms, student rooms, dining rooms, cloakrooms, andother interior pieces. NADOP employs NC machines andmachining centres, and assembly and packing lines. Thecompany also makes solid wood furniture and operates its ownveneer mill, modern paint shop using high-gloss varnish spraytechnology, as well as an upholstery workshop anda development workshop.

Could you tell us briefly about your best-sellingproducts?There is a high demand for NADOP kitchens with high-glossvarnished and veneered doors. Products made of exotic woodare also popular. Our new item launched in 2007 is kitchenfurniture with doors made of tinted tempered glass. Livingroom furniture and the furniture of adjoining spaces can befitted in the same style and with the use of the same materialas the kitchen, which is a great advantage.

Which current achievements can you pride yourselfon?On the occasion of the MOBITEX 2007 International Fair ofFurniture, Home Textiles and Interior Accessories, the ManagingDirector, Jiří Škrla, awarded 3rd place to NADOP’s CristalloKitchen model for its advanced design in the "MOBITEX GrandPrix" competition.

Falcon EU a.s.

Hvězdovská 644, 471 24 Mimoň, phone: +420 487 864, fax: +420 487 864 760, e-mail: sales@falcon-eu.cz, www.falcon-eu.com

Turnover: CZK 120 million – approx. EUR 4.2 millionNumber of employees: 170Contact: Ms Renata Zachovová, e-mail: renata.zachovova@falcon-eu.czExport: 90 %, to the USA, Canada, the UK, Germany

Falcon EU a.s. is a traditional manufacturer of solid beechbentwood chairs, armchairs, and tables for restaurants, hotels,cafés, boardrooms, etc. Falcon EU products are characterised bythe use of first-class beech wood in their manufacture and byprecision workmanship based on the use of CNC machines. Therange comprises a wide array of products, from simple modelsto complicated pieces for customers with high expectations. Ofspecial interest are the company’s custom-made products basedon drawings, sketches, and pictures supplied by the customer.

Falcon’s history of bentwood furniture makingdates far back. What is your company’s positiontoday?

At present, the company isworking hard to establish a strongposition on the bentwood furnituremarket. The aim of the companymanagement is to expand to newexport territories (North Africa,Scandinavia ...) and to stabilise anddevelop tradit ional exportterritories (the USA, Canada, theUK).

Which products areintended for export?The entire Falcon EU product rangeis offered worldwide. Our mainexport territories include the USA and Canada, whereconventional American models of robust design are most indemand, although there is also a market for models in the BOseries - elegant new items introduced only this year.

NADOP kitchen

A Falcon EU chair

Phot

o: N

AD

OP

arch

ives

Phot

o: F

alco

n EU

arc

hive

s

S U R V E Y

| 28

AHORN CZ, s.r.o.

Vlkoš 343, 696 41 Vlkoš u Kyjova, phone: +420 518 625 225, fax: +420 518 625 706, e-mail: info@ahorn.cz, www.ahorn.cz

Turnover: CZK 100 million – approx. EUR 3.5 millionNumber of employees: 70Contact: Ms Martina Presová, e-mail: info@ahorn.cz,presova@ahorn.czExport: 40 %, mainly to EU states, especially to Germany,Austria, Slovakia

AHORN CZ, s.r.o. is a Czech manufacturer of slatted bed frames- an important base for mattresses to ensure a sound and restfulsleep. Ahorn offers its customers advice on suitablecombinations of slatted bed frame and mattress based onmeasuring the bed load by means of the AHORN® measuringblanket®. The advantage of all AHORN slatted bed frames isprimarily their high quality, documented by several certificates,excellent service and modern design.

You work together with CzechTrade. What are theachievements resulting from this cooperation?The success of our current export strategy is affirmed by the factthat in 2004 our company ranked third in the DHL Exporter ofthe Year competition.

Recently you placed a new product on the market,for which you won an award. Could you presentthis product briefly?AHORN CZ, s.r.o. was awarded the main prize in the advancedtechnology/material category of the MOBITEX 2007 Grand Prixcompetition for its Flowerflex® Motor slatted bed frame. Thisprize is awarded each year in the framework of the MobitexInternational Fair of Furniture, Home Textiles, and InteriorAccessories in Brno.

Flowerflex® is a slatted bed frame of a new sort, where thespringing of the sleeping area is secured by a system of points -special elements shaped like a flower, which make it possible toadjust the rigidity in the individual points of the frameaccording to individual requirements and preferences.

The Flowerflex ® slatted bed frame comes in several versions -rigid, with adjustment of positioning, or with positioning bymeans of two motors, one of which positions the head and thelumbar parts of the frame and the other the lumbar part andthe legs. With these special features, Flowerflex® slatted bedframes are the best technology available on the market. Theunique zoning of the frame helps to prevent various healthproblems, especially back pain.

JELÍNEK – výroba nábytku s.r.o.

Palackého 420/21, 757 01 Valašské Meziříčí, phone: +420 571 579 811, fax: +420 571 759 812, e-mail: info@jelinek.eu,www.jelinek.eu

Turnover: CZK 100 million – approx. EUR 3.5 millionNumber of employees: 95Contact: Mr David Srněnský, e-mail: srnensky@jelinek.euExport: 10 % to Slovakia, 0.5 % to Germany, 0.5 % to Austria

Jelínek – výroba nábytku s.r.o. is a traditional Czechmanufacturer of high-quality furniture. Products include made-to-measure orthopaedic slatted mattresses - SÁRA and ZORA,bedroom furniture, beds, chests, dressers made from solidwood – oak, beech. Positioning bed frames with mechanicaland automatic control. Bentwood furniture – chairs: low, tall,with arm rests, tables: rectangular, oval, round, extensiontables. Armchairs, three-piece suites, conference tables, dining-room suites, furniture walls.

How do your products fare on foreign markets?Although our furniture is appreciated also in other countries,for now our exports to foreign markets are directed above all toSlovakia.

You are currently implementing a project with thesupport of the European Social Fund. What exactly

does it entail?It is an employee training project, covering both general andspecial skills and the application thereof in the company’severyday operation.

Ráchel bedroom

Flowerflex

Phot

o: J

elín

ek a

rchi

ves

Phot

o: A

horn

arc

hive

s

C Z E C H F U R N I T U R E I N D U S T R Y

29 |

HRANIPEX a.s.

J. Rýznerové 97, Komorovice, 396 01 Humpolec, phone: +420 565 501 210-216, e-mail: hranipex@hranipex.cz,www.hranipex.com

Number of employees: 26Contact: Ms Michaela FliegerováExport: to Slovakia, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, theUkraine, Russia, Serbia, Croatia, Austria, Switzerland, Finland,Sweden, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Hranipex has been operating on the Czech market since 1993 andis the largest manufacturer of identical furniture edges in the CzechRepublic. Reliability, high quality, and identity are the cornerstonesof the company philosophy.

Key products include ABS, laminated, veneered, special anddesign edges, and fusible glues. Or alternatively, you will find theitem you are looking for in our range of packing foils, CPLlaminates, FALZ edges, and anti-draught foils.

You specialise in the production of identical furnitureedges. Is your product range expanding?Yes, it is. Each year we broaden our product range by some 100new ABS edge decors.

Do you also have representations in other countries?Which? Are you planning to expand your operations?

We operate branches in Slovakia, Poland, and Romania, and weare planning to further expand the existing network.

EXBYDO s.r.o.

Kamarytova 180, 396 01 Humpolec, phone: +420 565 534 336, fax: +420 565 533 675, e-mail: exbydo@exbydo.cz,www.exbydo.eu

Number of employees: 60Contact: Mr Michal Janeček, e-mail: exbydo@exbydo.czExport: 30 %, to Slovakia, the UK, Croatia, Bulgaria, United ArabEmirates

EXBYDO was founded in 1989 and specialises in the manufactureof office, surgery, and hospital furniture. It supplies office chairs,high-tech armchairs, sanitary beds, and accessories. We areconvinced that every workplace should be arranged so as to meetthe requirements of those using it. Exbydo thus designs everypiece of furniture according to the client’s individual needs, withemphasis on excellent design, ergonomics, and efficiency.

In cooperation with the studio of the successfuldesigner Professor Jiří Pelcl, you have developed the"Unitable" all-purpose table. What makes itexceptional?The "Unitable" has a variety of uses both in residential and non-residential interiors. Its characteristic features includestraightforward assembly, storage, and transport. The table ismade from environmentally friendly and recyclable materials. Theaccessories (a drawer, compartments for writing utensils,wastepaper basket) are made of paper. In 2006, the "Unitable"was declared Outstanding Product of the Year.

How do you maintain the competitiveness of thecompany?The most important aspects are to place the right products on themarket - products for which there is market demand, intensivecooperation with the customer on a partner level, as well ashelpfulness, flexibility, and reliability in the handling of orders. In

March 2007, we opened a new production compound, therebyincreasing our production capacity and satisfying customerdemand more promptly. Thanks to our cooperation with architectJiří Pelcl, we are keeping up with the latest trends in design. Wealso place emphasis on the perfect design of our catalogues andother presentation materials, which add a special touch to thecompany’s image. Our clients have confidence in our products, asthey are able to rely on their high quality documented bycertificates issued by the Furniture Testing Laboratory of the LightIndustry Testing Institute, by the Ecologically Friendly Product labelas well as EXBYDO’s membership of the Association of CzechFurniture Makers. We participate regularly in trade fairs both athome and abroad. Exbydo is also a holder of the ISO 9001 and14001 certificates.

EXBYDO – office furniture

Hranipex products

Phot

o: E

XBY

DO

arc

hive

sPh

oto:

Hra

nipe

x ar

chiv

es

| 30

I N F O R M AT I O N

DŮM A BYDLENÍ LIBEREC (HOUSE AND LIVING LIBEREC)3rd sales exhibition11–14 October 2007, Liberec – Exhibition GroundsDiamant Expo, spol. s r.o., e-mail:sekretariat@diamantexpo.cz, www.diamantexpo.cz

BYDLENÍ (HOME SHOW)Furniture, indoor furnishings and life-style fair18–21 October 2007, Olomouc – Flora ExhibitionGroundsVýstaviště Flora Olomouc, e-mail: info@flora-ol.cz, www.flora-ol.cz

MODERNÍ DŮM A BYT (MODERN HOUSE)Housing and construction fair18–21 October 2007, Plzeň – TJ Lokomotiva HallOmnis Olomouc, a.s., e-mail: nevtipilova@omnis.cz,www.omnis.cz

BYTOVÁ SHOW (HOME SHOW)Exhibition of furniture, interior furnishings, and accessories8–11 November 2007, Hradec Králové – Aldis Congress CentreEmpresa, e-mail: empresa@quick.cz, www.bytovashow.cz

FOR ARCH ČESKÉ BUDĚJOVICEBuilding, housing, and energy saving exhibition15–17 November 2007, České BudějoviceABF, a.s. Praha, e-mail: cb@abf.cz, www.forsystem.cz

Official participation of the Czech Republic in internationalfairs and exhibitions abroad

DUBAI – INDEXInternational Furniture Fair1–5 November 2007, DubaiRapid, a.s., e-mail: office@rapid.cz, www.rapid.cz

Furniture Exhibitions and Fairs in the CzechRepublic (July – December 2007)

Important Contacts Ministries

Ministry of Industry and Trade of the CR www.mpo.cz mpo@mpo.cz

Associations and unions

Association of Czech Furniture Manufacturers www.czechfurniture.com acn@czechfurniture.com

Guild of Upholsterers and Decorators www.volny.cz/cech_cal/ cech_cal@volny.cz

Cluster of Czech Furniture Manufacturers www.furniturecluster.cz info@furniturecluster.cz

Design Centre of the Czech Republic www.designcentrum.cz design@designcentrum.cz

Universities

Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry in Brno,

Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology www.ldf.mendelu.cz nabytek@mendelu.cz

Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, Department of Design www.vsup.cz jressova@vsup.cz

Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, Faculty of Art and Design www.ujep.cz stud@rek.ujep.cz

Research organisations and institutes

Institute of furniture, design, and habitation www.ldf.mendelu.cz nabytek@mendelu.cz

Milan Knížák, VENUS, 2006, ASON Interier

phot

o: D

esig

n C

entr

e ar

chiv

es